Written Answers Thursday 01 February 2007

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of chicken production in Scotland representing only 50% of consumption, it will consider taking action to raise the proportion of chickens consumed in Scotland that are produced in Scotland.

Ross Finnie: Production and consumption levels are functions of the market. The Executive, however, encourages retailers to continue to offer consumers the option of purchasing Scottish produce.

  Since 2001, the Executive has provided £0.5 million to Scottish poultry processing businesses through the processing grant scheme.

Agriculture

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money withheld from single farm payments under modulation in each year since modulation commenced has yet to be allocated.

Ross Finnie: There are two forms of modulation and all funds raised are allocated to different measures.

  European modulation is compulsory and contributions from farmers and crofters are allocated to fund the Land Management Contract Menu Scheme, as part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

  Member state modulation has been allocated to support agri-environment and afforestation measures that are also part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

  Details of expenditure for the measures mentioned above, were provided in answer to question S2W-31085 on 31 January 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Agriculture

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money was withheld from single farm payments under modulation in each year since modulation commenced.

Ross Finnie: The Single Farm Payment Scheme came into effect from 1 January 2005 with the first payments being made from 1 December 2005. The total modulation receipts for financial year 2005-06 were £28.158 million. My department currently forecasts these receipts being £36.266 million for financial year 2006-07 and £43.6 million for 2007-2008.

Antisocial Behaviour

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address antisocial behaviour that is driven by addiction.

Johann Lamont: We have put in place a range of measures to enable local agencies to address antisocial behaviour (ASB) driven by addiction. For example:

  We are providing £2 million funding between 2006 and 2008 to three local authorities for Breaking the Cycle projects, testing intensive supervision and intervention models aimed at encouraging behavioural change in the small number of families, many of whom have addiction problems, who are responsible for much of the most serious ASB in each community.

  We have provided the police with powers under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 to disperse groups engaged in persistent ASB, including street drinking, and to close premises being used as drug or drinking dens.

  We are supporting local authority proposals to introduce byelaws prohibiting drinking of alcohol in designated public places under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

  These measures are in addition to the £120 million funding which is supporting local authorities between 2004 and 2008 to develop a full range of ASB services appropriate to local circumstances. We require local authorities to show how local action to tackle ASB is co-ordinated with that to tackle alcohol and drug addictions.

Central Heating Programme

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many council-owned houses in Angus are now centrally heated as a result of the Executive’s central heating programme.

Des McNulty: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  In the public sector Angus Council installed 261 central heating systems through the programme.

Child Poverty

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to tackle child poverty in the Glasgow Springburn parliamentary constituency.

Rhona Brankin: We are committed to tackling child poverty throughout Scotland in partnership with the UK Government by investing in and supporting deprived communities and the vulnerable children and families within them.

  Within Springburn and across Glasgow City our employment framework - Workforce Plus – will ensure that we tackle worklessness, investment from our Community Regeneration Fund will regenerate the most deprived neighbourhoods, and our Sure Start programmes will ensure that we tackle poverty by ensuring every child has the best start in life.

Concessionary Travel

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Orkney residents have registered for concessionary ferry travel under the national concessionary travel scheme.

Tavish Scott: As at 24 January 2007 the number of National Entitlement Cards, which gives an entitlement to Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel and therefore the ferry concession, issued to Orkney residents was 4,032.

Crime

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address crime that is driven by addiction.

Cathy Jamieson: The Executive has a broad range of interventions in place which ensure that individuals are offered access to treatment at each stage in the criminal justice system. The range includes arrest referral schemes, mandatory drug treatment for arrestees, diversion from prosecution, piloting of drug treatment and testing as a condition of bail, drug treatment as a condition of probation order, Drug Treatment and Testing Orders, drug treatment throughout prisons sentences and upon release from prison through the Throughcare addiction service. In addition, the Glasgow and Fife Drug Courts focus specifically on offenders driven by addiction and the 218 centre in Glasgow provides services for women offenders. The aim of this wide-ranging strategy is to reduce levels of addiction and to reduce or eliminate associated levels of crime.

Dairy Industry

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30843 by Ross Finnie on 18 January 2007 and in light of the amount of unused capacity in the Southern Isles milk quota ring fence, particularly in 2004-05, whether it will investigate the impact that the Southern Isles milk quota ring fence has on milk production, farm income and the viability of farming in that area, given that dairy farmers in this area cannot lease their quota, unlike farmers elsewhere in Scotland, and whether it will allow Southern Isles dairy farmers to lease spare quota capacity.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has examined the likely consequences of lifting the Southern Isles milk quota ring fence and, if so, what the outcome of the examination was.

Ross Finnie: In 2006 the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Development Department asked the Scottish Agricultural College to carry out a study into the operation of the two remaining Scottish milk quota ring fences, including the Southern Isles. A draft of the study has been submitted and is being considered by my department.

Dairy Industry

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the purpose is of the Southern Isles milk quota ring fence.

Ross Finnie: The establishment of Scottish milk quota ring fences followed the introduction of EU-wide milk quotas regime in 1984. The ring fence arrangements, which place restrictions on the movement of milk quota, were introduced to support dairy producers and processors in peripheral parts of the country. Restricting the movement of quota and, thus, production helps to underpin dairying and cheese-making in remote areas.

Dangerous Dogs

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dangerous dogs it estimates are being kept illegally.

Tom McCabe: This information is not currently held centrally but we have written to Chief Constables to ask, among other things, if they can estimate the number of dogs that are currently being kept in their areas in contravention of the ban imposed by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Dangerous Dogs

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the scope of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is, as a matter of priority, reviewing the effectiveness of the ban on keeping pit bull terriers, and other types of dog, and also the law relating to all types of breeds of dogs that are dangerously out of control in private premises.

  As a first step in the review process, we have written to Chief Constables to establish facts and evidence about how the law operates in their areas, what can be done to make enforcement of the law more effective, and whether the law needs to be changed. We will also be seeking facts and evidence from other key stakeholders.

  Once such facts and evidence have been established from this process, we will consider what action may be necessary and the most appropriate way to take any action forward. Any changes proposed will of course be subject to a full consultation process.

Drug Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what services are being provided to support people whose drug misuse involves crack cocaine to end their addiction.

Cathy Jamieson: £23.7 million per annum over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08 is made available to health boards to provide drug treatment and care services. Planning of drug treatment services is done at a local level rather than a national level. It is the responsibility of local alcohol and drug action teams to decide what services are required, according to local needs and priorities.

  There are no defined treatment programmes for crack cocaine or substitute drugs that can be prescribed and therefore treatment is motivational and counselling based. We have set up a Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse short-life project group to look at psychostimulants, including crack cocaine, to consider how access, quality and the range of services available to psychostimulant users could be improved.

Drug Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what services are being provided to support people in the Grampian area whose drug misuse involves crack cocaine to end their addiction.

Cathy Jamieson: £2.2 million per annum over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08 is made available to Grampian Health Board to provide drug treatment and care services. It is the responsibility of alcohol and drug action teams to decide what services are required at a local level, according to local needs and priorities.

  There are no defined treatment programmes for crack cocaine or substitute drugs that can be prescribed and therefore treatment is motivational and counselling based. All drug services in Grampian will provide support to individuals reporting use of crack cocaine. Further information on services in Grampian area is set out in the local alcohol and drug action teams annual corporate action plan which is available online at: http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org.

Education

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review education provision in Fife.

Hugh Henry: The education functions of local authorities are subject to regular review by HM Inspectorate of Education and on-going discussion between the Executive and authorities.

Education

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time was between a pupil being referred to and seen by an educational psychologist in the last period for which figures are available.

Robert Brown: This information is not held centrally. However, statistical returns indicate that we now have more educational psychologists working in local authorities than we have ever had. We now have over 400 educational psychologists breaching 400 mark for first time, with a vacancy rate of only 4%. These figures are very encouraging especially when set against a falling school population.

Education

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority has received to assist the teaching of English as an additional language in the most recent year for which figures are available and what the reasons are for the distribution method used for this funding.

Robert Brown: There is no funding allocated specifically to assist the teaching of English as an additional language; however there are a number of GAE lines authorities could use to support the education of these children, such as, for example, the line "teachers for minority ethnic pupils".

Education

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the amount of funding for teaching English as an additional language.

Robert Brown: The overall core local government finance settlement for 2007-08 will amount to over £8.7 billion and this includes an additional £120.5 million which has been allocated to authorities to spend on the basis of their own local needs and priorities. Local authorities may allocate funding to support teaching English as an additional language, as they see fit, including using any additional funding to increase the amount allocated for that purpose.

Environment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is of nitrate leaching from the spreading of natural manure after mid-November.

Ross Finnie: The evidence on the leaching of nitrate to groundwater as a result of the spreading of manure is summarised in Annex B of the Executive’s consultation paper on proposed amendments to the Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones , issued on 16 November.

Environment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is of adverse effects from manure being spread annually on the same ground.

Ross Finnie: The environmental risks from manure spreading are related to several factors, such as the quantity and the timing of the application, but not to whether it is annual. Evidence on the possible adverse effects of the spreading of manure is summarised in Annex B of the Executive’s consultation paper on proposed amendments to the Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones , issued on 16 November.

Family Mediation

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to fund any new pilot mediation programmes, other than family mediation programmes, and, if so, whether it will list such programmes, also showing the planned level of funding.

Johann Lamont: The information requested is not held centrally and is being collected. A full reply will be sent as soon as the information is available.

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of its estimates in Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland (GERS), what total revenue has been raised in Scotland from (a) employers’ national insurance contributions, (b) the 11% rate of employees’ national insurance contributions and (c) the 1% rate of employees’ national insurance contributions in each year since GERS was first published.

Tom McCabe: The latest estimates of Employers’ National Insurance Contributions in Scotland (a) are presented in the following table for 2000-01 to 2004-05. Further disaggregation (b and c) is not available.

  The figures are not separately identified in the Government Expenditure and Revenues for Scotland (GERS) publications. They form part of, and are consistent with, the published estimates of Social Security Contributions.

  The figures for the years 2000-01 to 2004-05 are consistent with figures in the GERS 2004-05 publication. Figures for earlier years are not available on a consistent basis. All estimates are subject to future revisions.

  Estimates of Employers’ National Insurance Contributions in Scotland

  2000-01 to 2004-05 (£ Million)

  

 Year
 Employers’ National Insurance Contributions


 2000-01
 2,811


 2001-02
 2,941


 2002-03
 3,013


 2003-04
 3,370


 2004-05
 3,625

Finance

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26217 by Mr Tom McCabe on 12 June 2006, whether it will now publish its Brix note, Fiscal Autonomy, Financial Independence and Full Fiscal Power, in light of recent public focus on this issue.

Mr Tom McCabe: An application has been made to the Scottish Information Commissioner regarding a request for this information. The Commissioner has not yet issued his decision notice as regards that application.

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland (GERS), what estimates have been made of Scotland’s notional share of the UK’s public sector borrowing requirement in each year since GERS was first published.

Mr Tom McCabe: The following table shows the latest estimates of Scotland’s notional share of the UK’s public-sector borrowing requirement in each year since Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland (GERS) was first published. These figures are "notional" in the sense that Scotland has not actually borrowed during this period: all of Scotland’s deficits were covered by fiscal transfers from the UK Government.

  Scottish Net Borrowing as a Share of UK Net Borrowing excluding North Sea Revenues

  

 Year
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E


Scotland
Net Borrowing
(£ Billion)
(excl. North Sea)1
UK
Net Borrowing
(£ Billion)
(incl. North Sea)2
North Sea Revenues
(£ Billion) 1
UK
Net Borrowing 
(£ Billion)
(excl. North Sea) (B+C)
 Scottish Notional Share of UK Net Borrowing (both excl. North Sea) (A/D)


 1990-91
 3.6
 5.8
 2.3
 8.1
 44%


 1991-92
 4.7
 22.6
 1.0
 23.6
 20%


 1992-93
 7.6
 46.7
 1.3
 48.0
 16%


 1993-94
 8.4
 51.1
 1.2
 52.3
 16%


 1994-95
 7.8
 43.3
 1.6
 44.9
 17%


 1995-96
 7.4
 34.7
 2.4
 37.1
 20%


 1996-97
 6.8
 27.2
 3.5
 30.7
 22%


 1997-98
 5.3
 6.4
 3.3
 9.7
 55%


 1998-99
 4.2
 -4.0
 2.6
 -1.4
 N/A


 1999-2000
 4.8
 -16.3
 2.5
 -13.8
 N/A


 2000-01
 5.3
 -19.9
 4.3
 -15.6
 N/A


 2001-02
 7.7
 0.9
 5.2
 6.1
 N/A


 2002-03
 9.8
 24.9
 4.9
 29.8
 33%


 2003-04
 11.3
 34.1
 4.3
 38.4
 29%


 2004-05
 11.2
 39.1
 5.2
 44.3
 25%



  Source: Scottish Executive.

  Source: HM Treasury: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/A5B/FD/pfd_dec06.xls.

  Notes:

  1. The figures for Scottish net borrowing for 2000-01 to 2004-05 are consistent with the latest GERS publication. Figures for Scottish net borrowing prior to 2000-01 are taken from earlier GERS publications and are not directly comparable.

  2. N/A signifies that the UK was in fiscal surplus or had a deficit that was smaller than Scotland's - which means that we cannot meaningfully estimate a Scottish share of UK Net Borrowing in those years.

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland (GERS), what estimates have been made of the revenues raised from air passenger duty in each year since GERS was first published.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is set out in the following table.

  Data from 2000-2001 are consistent with figures in the Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland (GERS) 2004-05 publication. Estimates for earlier years are available in earlier GERS publications, but these are not directly comparable. All estimates are subject to future revisions.

  Estimates of Revenue Raised for Air Passenger Duty in Scotland, 2000-01 to 2004-05 (£ Million)

  

Year
Estimate


 2000-01
 82


 2001-02
 69


 2002-03
 70


 2003-04
 67


 2004-05
 73

Fire Service

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding per capita each fire authority will receive in aggregate external finance in 2007-08.

Mr Tom McCabe: Funding for fire authorities is included in the block grant given to local authorities as part of the annual local government finance settlement and is not separately identified.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fishermen there have been in each parliamentary constituency in each of the last five years, also showing year-on year percentage changes.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30098 on 5 December 2006, which stated that information by parliamentary constituency is not available. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to the provision of assistance to the owners and crews of deep water vessels.

Ross Finnie: At the December Council we secured a six-fold quota increase for Rockall haddock in line with the scientific advice and a 10% increase in Northern shelf monkfish. These developments will help in part to mitigate the economic impact of the decision taken on deep sea species at the November Council, which was necessary as the science was very bleak and strong action had to be taken to safeguard the stocks.

  We are also considering changes to the UK’s licensing regime, following extensive consultation with the Fishing Vessel Licensing Review Working Group, which may offer additional options for owners to restructure their business’s.

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many freedom of information requests have been made by Scottish prisoners in each year since the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 came into force.

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have made (a) one to five, (b) 6 to 20, (c) 21 to 50, (d) 51 to 100 and (e) over 100 freedom of information requests.

Margaret Curran: It is for every Scottish public authority to adopt its own system for monitoring requests it receives for information. It is for each public authority to determine what information can most effectively be recorded, and there is no requirement to monitor requests in any particular way, for example by reference to any particular circumstance of the requester. Further the Executive is not party to the detailed information held by any other public authority as a result of that authority’s monitoring system. It is therefore not possible for the Executive to answer this question.

Further and Higher Education

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of school leavers entered full-time higher or further education in the (a) Angus and (b) Aberdeenshire local authority areas in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Hugh Henry: Information on the percentage of school leavers entering higher and further education can be found in the Scottish Executive’s Statistical Publication Notice Destinations of Leavers from Scottish Schools: 2005-06 published on 6 December 2006. A local authority breakdown is available at table 6 of the publication. It can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00550 .

Genetically Modified Organisms

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to ensure that genetically modified chickens, their eggs or any part thereof do not enter the food chain.

Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the sale of foods and food ingredients derived from genetically modified chickens falls under the EC Regulation on Genetically Modified Food and Feed (1829/2003). This means that any food product derived from GM chickens would be subject to a safety evaluation before it could be legally marketed.

  These safety assessments are the responsibility of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in accordance with requirements of Regulation (EC) No.1829/2003, and the final decision on authorisations is taken by the member states, who vote on each one.

  To date no applications have been considered in the EC for food products derived from genetically modified chickens.

Historic Buildings

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the principal statutes, policy documents, European or international conventions, accords or agreements are to which the Executive is bound and which govern the work and considerations of ministers in relation to scheduled monuments, historic and listed buildings, and what relative weight the Executive or its agencies have to give to the various provisions in making decisions.

Patricia Ferguson: The key legislation for the preservation of and management of works on scheduled monuments is the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP) 2: Scheduling: protecting Scotland’s nationally important monuments sets out Scottish ministers’ policy for the identification and designation of nationally important ancient monuments. A draft SHEP on Scheduled Monument Consent will be issued for consultation in the near future.

  The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the key legislation in relation to listed buildings. Historic Scotland has published The Memorandum of Guidance on Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas which provides guidance on managing change to listed buildings. Draft SHEPs on Listing and Listed Building Consent will be issued for consultation in the near future.

  The legislative framework is supported by the Scottish Executive’s National Planning Policy Guidelines of which NPPG 5 on archaeological remains and discoveries, NPPG 18 on the historic environment and NPPG 14 on the conservation and enhancement of Scotland’s natural heritage are the most relevant.

  In 2002, Ministers published Passed to the Future: Historic Scotland’s Policy for the Sustainable Management of Historic Environment. This will be superseded during 2007 by the publication, following consultation, of the finalised SHEP 1 on Scotland’s Historic Environment.

  The UK has ratified the following international conventions and is bound to ensure that the legislative framework is in place for their effective implementation:

  The European Cultural Convention (ratified in 1955);

  The Convention on the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (ratified in 1987);

  The European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (ratified in 2000);

  The European Landscape Convention (ratified in 2006 and coming into force in March 2007), and

  The Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.

  The UK government is also planning to ratify the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of an Armed Conflict.

  UK-wide policy on the care of the historic environment in the care of government departments - particularly scheduled monuments and listed buildings - is contained in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s Protocol for the Care of the Government Historic Estate 2003. There is also a range of policy and guidance produced by Historic Scotland. The most important of these publications is the Stirling Charter, which sets out broad principles for the conservation of the built heritage in Scotland. This will also be superseded by SHEP 1.

  In addition, there are a number of international charters which represent best practice in the conservation of the historic environment. Historic Scotland’s Technical Advice Note 8 provides a guide to these charters.

  In terms of decision making, each case has to be considered on its particular merits, and the relative weight to be accorded to particular considerations will vary according to the facts of the case.

Historic Buildings

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what principal considerations it or its agencies must have in making decisions about the future use of ancient and historic buildings, scheduled monuments, listed buildings and any other built structures of whatever age over which their consent is required.

Patricia Ferguson: When making decisions and/or providing advice on the future use of scheduled ancient monuments, listed buildings, protected wrecks and sites included on the inventory of gardens and designed landscapes each case has to be considered on its own facts and circumstances. In general the principal considerations will include the relevant legislative and policy framework, the nature and significance of the historic asset the subject of the proposal for change requiring consent, an assessment of the impacts of the proposed change on the historic asset, the risks associated with any change of use and any other relevant considerations.

  In relation to nationally important sites protected as scheduled monuments under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 an important general principle is that as far as possible scheduled monuments should be preserved in the state that they have come down to us and that any proposed works therefore should be the minimum necessary consistent with the preservation of the monument unless there are exceptional circumstances.

  Historic Scotland is publishing a series of Scottish Historic Environment Policies (SHEP) which will set out Scottish ministers’ vision and strategic policies for the wider historic environment. SHEP 2: Scheduling: protecting Scotland’s nationally important monuments has been published in final form.

Historic Buildings

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the designations and classifications used for buildings and monuments, giving the distinctions between each.

Patricia Ferguson: There are four statutory and non-statutory designations for historic monuments, buildings and sites. These are:

  Listed buildings are buildings of special architectural or historic interest which are given legal protection under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997. Those awarded have satisfied criteria for inclusion, broadly age and rarity, architectural interest, close historical associations and group interest. Greater selectivity is applied to subjects younger than thirty years old.

  A listing may legally be applied to any-man-made structure which meets the criteria. The interior structure is always included in a listing as is any object or structure fixed to it.

  Listing brings with it a curtilage comprised of any object or structure which, though not fixed to the building, forms part of the land and has done so since 1 July 1948.

  Listing applies a grading system to distinguish between relative levels of interest and assist with future management of the resource (categories A, B and C(S)).

  Scheduled monuments are ancient monuments of national importance given legal protection under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. A scheduled monument can include: the above and below-ground remains of buildings, structures or works; the site of vehicles, vessels, aircraft or other moveable structures where the actual situation of these is a matter of public interest; and machinery that is associated with these if it cannot be detached without dismantling the monument. Underwater monuments in Scottish Territorial Waters (out to 12 nautical miles offshore) can also be scheduled.

  We cannot schedule a dwelling or ecclesiastical building that is in use, portable objects, or wrecks protected under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.

  Designated Wreck Sites are nationally important wrecks and the sites of those wrecks which are designated as protected areas under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. Again, Historic Scotland administers the responsibilities of Scottish ministers under this act.

  Conservation Areas: In addition, under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997, planning authorities have powers to designate areas of their district as being of special architectural or historic interest, that is as Conservation Areas.

  Choice of statutory designation.

  Distinction between Listing and Scheduling: Different sites will qualify for different types of designation, and be designated under more than one. Scheduling and listing are subject to separate legal provision and apply different criteria for selection. The management of listed buildings following designation falls to local authorities in the first instance. Historic Scotland deals with scheduled monuments on behalf of Scottish ministers. If a site is both scheduled and listed, scheduling takes precedence. All scheduled monuments are of national importance whereas listing may be applied to subjects of national, regional or local interest.

  Scheduling aims for the preservation of the site in the state it has come down to us, with the presumption that any future works will be the minimum necessary consistent with the preservation of the monument. Within the planning system listing is designed to inform the management of change while aiming to protect the special architectural or historic interest of the subject.

  Non-Statutory Designation

  Gardens and Designed Landscapes of national importance are identified in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. Historic Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage are the sponsors of the Inventory. Sites are chosen for their importance as individual works of art in their own right and, for their importance in terms of architectural, archaeological, historic, scenic and scientific interest. Inventory status is not a statutory designation. However, the terms of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Scotland) Order 1992 (SI 1992/224) require planning authorities to consult with the sponsors on development proposals affecting inventory sites.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of MRSA were recorded in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital.

Mr Andy Kerr: Health Protection Scotland published the latest figures on MRSA bacteraemia (blood infection) rates on 16 January 2007. A copy of this report is available from:  http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/sshaip/publications/mrsa-quarterly-reports/jan-2003-to-sept-2006.pdf

  Hospital specific information is not held centrally.

  MRSA bacteraemia rates have remained stable in Scotland as a whole since national mandatory reporting began in 2003.

  As part of our drive to improve surveillance, compulsory reporting of all Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemias (which includes MSSA and MRSA) was introduced in July 2006. As expected, this has increased reporting of MSSA infections (which was previously voluntary), but this will enable more effective targeting of measures to reduce these infections.

  Wide-ranging measures to address healthcare associated infection (HAI), set in place by the HAI Task Force, include a national campaign to raise awareness amongst NHS staff, patients, visitors and the public of the benefits of improved hand hygiene to public health. local health board co-ordinators are being appointed to help implement and monitor compliance in hospitals. Additional training courses for NHS staff, and robust monitoring of the standards of cleaning in Scotland’s hospitals are also part of the Task Force’s Delivery Plan.

Housing

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been made available for the provision of affordable housing in (a) Angus and (b) Aberdeenshire in each year since 2003-04.

Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The affordable housing funding provided by Communities Scotland is set out in the following table:

  

 Year
Angus
(£ Million)
Aberdeenshire
(£ Million)


 2003-04 
 4.355
 12.734


 2004-05 
 4.376
 12.037


 2005-06
 5.518
 11.139


 2006-07*
 6.504
 13.086



  Note: *Figures for 2006-07 are budget figures.

Meat Industry

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the costs associated with Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) regulations, particularly in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, it considers that there is a future for the pig or chicken-producing sectors.

Sarah Boyack: The IPPC Regulations are designed to tackle a range of potential pollution problems which can result from pig and poultry farming and which may have an adverse impact on the environment, human health or both. Although the regulations will impose additional costs on the industry, they should help to promote and secure the positive environmental reputation which is essential for the future of Scottish farming.

Medical Records

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to NHS boards in relation to granting family members access to the medical records of deceased patients.

Lewis Macdonald: Health Rights Information Scotland is a project based within the Scottish Consumer Council, and funded by the Scottish Executive Health Department. It is a joint initiative to raise the quality of information available to patients in the NHS.

  The project has produced a paper patient leaflet How to see your Health Records which is widely available at GP surgeries and other NHS hospitals and clinics. It contains plain english guidance on how patients can see their Health Records. The guidance is also available at their website: http://www.hris.org.uk/?o=1256#8.

  In relation to granting family members access to the medical records of deceased patients the guidance states that:

  The law allows you to see records made after 1 November 1991. But generally, records are only kept for three years after death.

  You can only see that person’s records if you are their personal representative or executor, or if you have a claim for compensation as a result of that person’s death. If you are claiming compensation, you can only see information which is relevant to the claim.

  You will not be able to see parts of the records which:

  could cause serious harm to your, or someone else’s, physical or mental health

  could identify another person (except members of NHS staff who have treated the patient), unless that person gives their permission.

  You will not be able to see the records of someone who made it clear that they did not want other people to see their records after their death.

Medical Records

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to NHS boards in relation to granting patients access to their own medical records.

Lewis Macdonald: Health Rights Information Scotland is a project based within the Scottish Consumer Council, and funded by the Scottish Executive Health Department. It is a joint initiative to raise the quality of information available to patients in the NHS.

  The project has produced a paper patient leaflet How to see your Health Records which is widely available at GP surgeries and other NHS hospitals and clinics. It contains plain english guidance on how patients can see their health records. The guidance is also available at their website: http://www.hris.org.uk/?o=1256#8.

  The guidance covers how a patient gets access to their own records, what they will see, what it might cost, how long it will take, what to do if a patient thinks the information is incorrect, whether a patient can claim compensation and who might see the records of a patient who has died.

NHS Finance

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds are being made available to NHS boards for 2007-08.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS boards have been given a general allocation of £6,870.4 million for 2007-08, an average increase over the equivalent 2006-07 allocation of 6.44%. Details of each NHS board’s allocation is as follows:

  

 
Allocation
(£ Million)
Increase
(£ Million)
Increase 
%


 Ayrshire and Arran 
 530.2
 31.6
 6.34%


 Borders 
 154.1
 10.1
 7.00%


 Dumfries and Galloway 
 221.2
 13.1
 6.28%


 Fife 
 462.4
 30.2
 7.00%


 Forth Valley 
 363.0
 23.7
 7.00%


 Grampian 
 627.3
 39.6
 6.74%


 Greater Glasgow 
 1,734.9
 98.2
 6.00%


 Highland 
 445.8
 25.2
 6.00%


 Lanarkshire 
 735.0
 46.2
 6.71%


 Lothian 
 930.9
 60.2
 6.91%


 Orkney 
 28.7
 1.7
 6.24%


 Shetland 
 33.9
 1.9
 6.00%


 Tayside 
 549.4
 31.1
 6.00%


 Western Isles 
 53.6
 3.0
 6.00%


 
 6,870.4
 415.8
 6.44%



  Note: The general allocation includes provision for Hospital and Community Health Services and the cost of drugs prescribed by general practitioners.

  Allocations to Special Health Boards for 2007-08 are as follows:

  


Allocation
(£ Million)
Increase
(£ Million)
Increase %


 NHS National Services Scotland
 236.3
 11.8
 5.20


 NHS Education for Scotland
 350.5
 19.8
 6.00


 State Hospital
 32.7
 1.9
 6.00


 Scottish Ambulance Service
 177.8
 10.1
 6.00


 NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
 15.7
 0.5
 3.60


 NHS Health Scotland
 16.8
 0.6
 3.60


 NHS 24
 51.7
 2.9
 6.00


 National Waiting Times Centre
 38.8
 2.2
 6.00


 
 920.3
 49.8
 5.72

National Health Service

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the impact that Sir Gerry Robinson is reported to have had on NHS waiting times and given how NHS Tayside health professionals demonstrated in the Parliament last year their commitment to perpetual improvement, what steps the Executive is taking to empower all NHS professionals to achieve similar results by using comparable working principles and methods across the NHS.

Mr Andy Kerr: I want all NHS boards in Scotland to demonstrate continuous improvement in the services they provide. I have established a clearer system of performance management and delivery which requires NHS boards to meet specific key targets. I expect all NHS boards to plan and utilise all of their resources effectively with support from the Health Department and its Delivery Group.

  One way in which we are supporting NHS boards is through the national programmes on primary care, unscheduled care, planned care, diagnostics, eyecare and the roll out of the Citistat approach to performance management. Participation in these programmes is enabling and empowering NHS boards to develop both capacity and capability for service improvement.

National Health Service

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations were carried out in hospitals in NHS Tayside in each year since 2000.

Mr Andy Kerr: In terms of context, it should be remembered that the successful implementation of Delivering for Health (launched in October 2005) is already bringing about a fundamental shift in the balance of care. This, quite appropriately, places a greater emphasis on anticipatory care so that those at risk of ill health receive the services they need. In effect, the NHS in Scotland is no longer waiting for people to become ill, then sending them to hospital for urgent treatment. Instead, the Executive and NHS is doing more than ever before to encourage people to lead healthy lives, and spotting and dealing with poor health before it can develop into something more serious. When people do need treatment, the Executive and NHS are committed to delivering more of it closer to home in local communities.

  Operations are carried out within NHSScotland in a wide range of settings dependent on a number of factors including the complexity of the operation and the clinical and personal needs of the patient. Table 1 shows the number of operations carried out on patients admitted as in-patients or day cases.

  Operations can also be performed in an out-patient setting. From April 2003, the national reporting of surgical activity in out-patients has been required and ISD has been working with NHS boards to develop full compliance nationally. At this stage only a proportion of boards have achieved extensive coverage and further work will be necessary before a complete account of all out-patient surgical activity can be made. The number of out-patient operations recorded in NHS Tayside in the year ended 31 March 2006 was 7,083.

  Table 1: Number of Operations1,2 Performed in Acute Specialties in NHS Tayside Board of Treatment for Years Ended 31 March 2000 to 2006

  

Year Ending 31 March:
In-Patients
Day Cases


Total Operations
Total Operations


2000
33,465
30,429


2001
32,693
30,468


2002
31,433
21,467


2003
31,406
19,250


2004
30,354
20,758


2005
30,684
20,173


2006P
30,849
20,613



  Source: SMR01.

  PProvisional.

  Notes:

  1. "Operations" has been assumed to be the number of invasive procedures undertaken. ISD Scotland does not maintain a definitive code list that distinguishes between invasive and non-invasive procedures. However, there are a few non-invasive procedures that are easily identified and as a result have been excluded from the information in Table 1, they include:

  X29 – Continuous infusion of therapeutic substance (including chemotherapy).

  X33 – Other blood transfusions.

  X35 – Other intravenous injection.

  X55 – Other operations on unspecified organs (this includes MRI scans and various types of imaging).

  2. The information in table 1 therefore includes all procedures (other than those specified above) whether invasive or non-invasive.

National Health Service

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations were carried out in each hospital in NHS Tayside in the last year for which the information is available.

Mr Andy Kerr: In terms of context, it should be remembered that the successful implementation of Delivering for Health (launched in October 2005) is already bringing about a fundamental shift in the balance of care. This, quite appropriately, places a greater emphasis on anticipatory care so that those at risk of ill health receive the services they need. In effect, the NHS in Scotland is no longer waiting for people to become ill, then sending them to hospital for urgent treatment. Instead, the Executive and NHS is doing more than ever before to encourage people to lead healthy lives, and spotting and dealing with poor health before it can develop into something more serious. When people do need treatment, the Executive and NHS are committed to delivering more of it closer to home in local communities.

  Operations are carried out within NHSScotland in a wide range of settings dependent on a number of factors including the complexity of the operation and the clinical and personal needs of the patient. Table 1 shows the number of operations carried out on patients admitted as in-patients or day cases.

  Operations can also be performed in an out-patient setting. From April 2003, the national reporting of surgical activity in out-patients has been required and ISD has been working with NHS boards to develop full compliance nationally. At this stage only a proportion of boards have achieved extensive coverage and further work will be necessary before a complete account of all out-patient surgical activity can be made. The number of out-patient operations recorded in NHS Tayside in the year ended 31 March 2006 was 7,083.

  Table 1: Number of Operations1,2 Performed in Acute Specialties in each NHS Tayside Hospital for Year Ended 31 March 2006P

  

 Location
 In-Patients
 Day Cases


 Total Operations
 Total Operations


 Blairgowrie Community Hospital
 14
 0


 Brechin Infirmary
 12
 2


 Crieff Community Hospital
 5
 0


 Fernbrae Hospital
 69
 3


 Irvine Memorial Hospital
 5
 0


 Ninewells Hospital
 22,866
 13,430


 Perth Royal Infirmary
 6,768
 4,626


 St Margaret's Hospital
 11
 0


 Stracathro Hospital
 1,099
 2,552


 All Tayside Hospitals
 30,849
 20,613



  Source: SMR01.

  PProvisional.

  Notes:

  1. "Operations" has been assumed to be the number of invasive procedures undertaken. ISD Scotland does not maintain a definitive code list that distinguishes between invasive and non-invasive procedures. However, there are a few non-invasive procedures that are easily identified and as a result have been excluded from the information in Table 1, they include:

  X29 – Continuous infusion of therapeutic substance (including chemotherapy).

  X33 – Other blood transfusions.

  X35 – Other intravenous injection.

  X55 – Other operations on unspecified organs (this includes MRI scans and various types of imaging).

  2. The information in table 1 therefore includes all procedures (other than those specified above) whether invasive or non-invasive.

National Health Service

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations were carried out in hospitals in NHS Grampian in each year since 2000.

Mr Andy Kerr: In terms of context, it should be remembered that the successful implementation of Delivering for Health  (launched in October 2005) is already bringing about a fundamental shift in the balance of care. This, quite appropriately, places a greater emphasis on anticipatory care so that those at risk of ill health receive the services they need. In effect, the NHS in Scotland is no longer waiting for people to become ill, then sending them to hospital for urgent treatment. Instead, the Executive and NHS is doing more than ever before to encourage people to lead healthy lives, and spotting and dealing with poor health before it can develop into something more serious. When people do need treatment, the Executive and NHS are committed to delivering more of it closer to home in local communities.

  Operations are carried out within NHSScotland in a wide range of settings dependent on a number of factors including the complexity of the operation and the clinical and personal needs of the patient. Table 1 shows the number of operations carried out on patients admitted as in-patients or day cases.

  Operations can also be performed in an out-patient setting. From April 2003, the national reporting of surgical activity in out-patients has been required and ISD has been working with NHS boards to develop full compliance nationally. At this stage only a proportion of boards have achieved extensive coverage and further work will be necessary before a complete account of all out-patient surgical activity can be made. The number of out-patient operations recorded in NHS Grampian in the year ended 31 March 2006 was 25,381.

  Table 1: Number of operations1,2 performed in acute specialties in NHS Grampian board of treatment for years ended 31 March 2000 to 2006

  

 Year Ending 31 March:
 In-Patients
 Day Cases


 Total Operations
 Principal Operations
 Total Operations
 Principal Operations


 2000
 49,693
 34,659
 28,065
 23,898


 2001
 46,847
 32,891
 28,534
 24,378


 2002
 46,130
 32,631
 26,081
 22,141


 2003
 47,127
 32,678
 21,257
 17,681


 2004
 46,862
 32,858
 19,862
 16,851


 2005
 46,127
 32,075
 20,344
 17,278


 2006P
 48,744
 33,654
 22,226
 18,728



  Source: SMR01.

  PProvisional.

  Notes:

  1. "Operations" has been assumed to be the number of invasive procedures undertaken. ISD Scotland does not maintain a definitive code list that distinguishes between invasive and non-invasive procedures. However, there are a few non-invasive procedures that are easily identified and as a result have been excluded from the information in Table 1, they include:

  X29 – Continuous infusion of therapeutic substance (including chemotherapy).

  X33 – Other blood transfusions.

  X35 – Other intravenous injection.

  X55 – Other operations on unspecified organs (this includes MRI scans and various types of imaging).

  2. The information in table 1 therefore includes all procedures (other than those specified above) whether invasive or non-invasive.

National Health Service

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many attendances there were at each accident and emergency centre in NHS Tayside in each year since 2000.

Andy Kerr: Information on the number of attendances at each accident and emergency centre in NHS Tayside is shown in Table 1.

  Table 1: Accident and Emergency Attendances in NHS Tayside by hospital; Years Ended 31 March 2000 to 2006

  

 Hospital/Location
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005P
 2006P


 Aberfeldy Community Hospital
 734
 838
 799
 742
 639
 575
 340


 Arbroath Infirmary
 13,483
 11,745
 11,763
 12,026
 10,920
 11,070
 11,996


 Blairgowrie Community Hospital
 3,318
 2,966
 3,136
 3,954
 4,699
 3,021
 1,502


 Brechin Infirmary
 1,684
 1,615
 1,560
 1,775
 3,362
 4,678
 5,067


 Crieff Community Hospital
 4,276
 3,715
 3,583
 4,022
 3,549
 2,780
 2,756


 Forfar Infirmary
 4,293
 4,794
 4,970
 4,758
 4,800
 4,927
 140


 Esk House Health Clinic, Montrose
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 8,855


 Irvine Memorial Hospital
 1,526
 1,402
 1,596
 1,596
 1,433
 1,254
 1,840


 Links Health Centre
 -
 -
 -
 -
 3,269
 2,981
 -


 Montrose Royal Infirmary
 3,366
 3,054
 3,277
 3,613
 959
 3,215
 -


 Ninewells Hospital
 36,516
 35,283
 42,968
 47,677
 48,096
 49,723
 50,620


 Perth Royal Infirmary
 28,664
 27,224
 26,780
 24,025
 24,472
 24,714
 25,460


 St Margaret's Hospital
 1,778
 1,892
 2,401
 2,168
 2,094
 1,612
 891


 Stracathro Hospital
 6,171
 5,477
 4,947
 3,267
 766
 -
 -


 Whitehills Health & Community Care Centre
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 6,417


 Total
 105,809
 100,005
 107,780
 109,623
 109,058
 110,550
 115,884



  Note:

  PProvisional, some information is estimated.

National Health Service

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many attendances there were at each accident and emergency centre in NHS Grampian in each year since 2000.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on the number of attendances at each accident and emergency centre in NHS Grampian is shown in Table 1.

  Table 1: Accident and Emergency Attendances in NHS Grampian by Hospital; Years Ended 31 March 2000 to 2006

  

Hospital/Location
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
78,768
76,113
76,139
70,882
62,570
57,798
59,395


Aboyne Hospital
784
719
726
580
862
514
444


Chalmers Hospital
8,524
7,686
7,374
6,189
5,630
2,439
2,383


Dr Gray's Hospital
16,541
16,380
17,260
18,268
19,577
18,471
25,025


Fleming Cottage Hospital
771
546
524
684
559
335
221


Fraserburgh Hospital
15,891
14,846
15,189
14,515
11,290
4,435
3,759


Hyperbaric Centre
-
-
47
37
86
1
-


Insch and District War Memorial Hospital
618
681
718
772
925
653
618


Inverurie Hospital
728
792
766
939
1,087
580
19


Jubilee Hospital
3,856
4,161
3,992
3,915
3,555
1,716
2,022


Kincardine Community Hospital
1,720
1,673
1,410
1,725
1,704
613
434


Leanchoil Hospital
1,905
1,144
1,103
813
819
253
275


Mintlaw Group Practice
-
-
-
-
-
-
2


Peterhead Community Hospital
10,168
9,181
9,062
8,631
7,980
3,331
5,892


Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital
22,221
20,926
20,806
20,035
20,466
19,789
19,647


Seafield Hospital
2,135
1,962
1,276
1,470
1,687
769
562


Stephen Cottage Hospital
1,293
594
678
702
771
466
309


Turner Memorial Hospital
3,160
3,044
2,843
3,057
3,238
1,623
1,061


Turriff Cottage Hospital
2,791
3,117
3,236
3,359
2,884
1,122
877


Total
171,874
163,565
163,149
156,573
145,690
114,908
122,945



  The apparent decrease in the number of accident and emergency attendances in the most recent years is largely due to activity for emergency nurse practitioners being recorded as nurse-led activity in NHS Grampian. The nurse led activity return is part of ISD’s data development initiative. Preliminary data and further information on this return is available on the ISD Scotland website at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/collect2.jsp?pContentID=2789andp_applic=CCCandp_service=Content.showand.

National Health Service

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many inpatient and outpatient appointments and procedures there were in NHS Tayside in each year since 2000.

Mr Andy Kerr: In terms of context, it should be remembered that the successful implementation of Delivering for Health  (launched in October 2005) is already bringing about a fundamental shift in the balance of care. This, quite appropriately, places a greater emphasis on anticipatory care so that those at risk of ill health receive the services they need. In effect, the NHS in Scotland is no longer waiting for people to become ill, then sending them to hospital for urgent treatment. Instead, the Executive and NHS is doing more than ever before to encourage people to lead healthy lives, and spotting and dealing with poor health before it can develop into something more serious. When people do need treatment, the Executive and NHS are committed to delivering more of it closer to home in local communities.

  The information requested on the number of inpatient and day case episodes, and new and return outpatient attendances is shown in Table 1.

  Table 1: Number of In-patient and Day Case Episodes, and New and Return Out-patient Attendances in NHS Tayside Board of Treatment for Years Ending 31 March 2000 to 2006

  

Year Ending 31 March:

In-Patients
Day Cases
New Out-Patients
Return Out-Patients


2000
80,791
33,823
138,231
365,476


2001
78,371
34,930
133,886
356,010


2002
77,501
25,417
127,611
332,597


2003
75,322
22,246
129,918
340,588


2004
76,169
25,021
136,489
351,854


2005
73,818
24,695
139,338
348,024


2006P
73,291
25,025
131,964
337,208



  Source: ISD(S)1.

  PProvisional.

  In addition, hospital activity is undertaken at nurse-led clinics. ISD Scotland have been working with NHS boards to capture this information. Initial findings are published as part of ISD Scotland’s "data development" web pages at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4453.html.

  Procedures are carried out within NHSScotland in a wide range of settings dependent on a number of factors including the complexity of the operation and the clinical and personal needs of the patient. Table 2 shows the number of procedures carried out on patients admitted as inpatients or day cases.

  Procedures can also be performed in an outpatient setting. From April 2003, the national reporting of surgical activity in outpatients has been required and ISD has been working with NHS boards to develop full compliance nationally. At this stage only a proportion of boards have achieved extensive coverage and further work will be necessary before a complete account of all outpatient surgical activity can be made. The number of outpatient procedures recorded in NHS Tayside in the year ended 31 March 2006 was 7,083.

  Table 2: Number of Procedures Performed in Acute Specialties in NHS Tayside Board of Treatment for Years Ending 31 March 2000 to 2006

  

 Year Ending 31 March:
 In-Patients
 Day Cases


 Total Procedures
 Total Procedures


 2000
 41,010
 33,262


 2001
 41,109
 33,683


 2002
 39,613
 23,795


 2003
 41,165
 21,814


 2004
 41,327
 23,936


 2005
 45,334
 23,829


 2006
 45,897
 24,708



  Source: SMR01.

National Health Service

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many inpatient and outpatient appointments and procedures there were in NHS Grampian in each year since 2000.

Mr Andy Kerr: In terms of context, it should be remembered that the successful implementation of Delivering for Health (launched in October 2005) is already bringing about a fundamental shift in the balance of care. This, quite appropriately, places a greater emphasis on anticipatory care so that those at risk of ill health receive the services they need. In effect, the NHS in Scotland is no longer waiting for people to become ill, then sending them to hospital for urgent treatment. Instead, the Executive and NHS is doing more than ever before to encourage people to lead healthy lives, and spotting and dealing with poor health before it can develop into something more serious. When people do need treatment, the Executive and NHS are committed to delivering more of it closer to home in local communities.

  The information requested on the number of inpatient and day case episodes, and new and return outpatient attendances is shown in Table 1.

  Table 1: Number of In-Patient and Day Case Episodes, and New and Return Out-Patient Attendances in NHS Grampian Board of Treatment for Years Ending 31 March 2000 to 2006

  

 Year Ending 31 March:
 In-Patients
 Day Cases
 New Out-Patients
 Return Out-Patients


 2000
 105,003
 26,354
 152,533
 303,541


 2001
 103,044
 27,314
 151,036
 301,978


 2002
 102,745
 23,526
 146,683
 295,771


 2003
 103,695
 18,797
 146,780
 283,893


 2004
 110,499
 18,360
 143,901
 293,752


 2005
 105,711
 18,783
 120,785
 277,178


 2006
 108,108
 19,333
 128,942
 259,098



  Source: ISD(S)1.

  In addition, hospital activity is undertaken at nurse-led clinics. ISD Scotland have been working with NHS Boards to capture this information. Initial findings are published as part of ISD Scotland’s "data development" web pages at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4453.html.

  Procedures are carried out within NHSScotland in a wide range of settings dependent on a number of factors including the complexity of the operation and the clinical and personal needs of the patient. Table 2 shows the number of procedures carried out on patients admitted as in-patients or day cases.

  Procedures can also be performed in an outpatient setting. From April 2003, the national reporting of surgical activity in outpatients has been required and ISD has been working with NHS boards to develop full compliance nationally. At this stage only a proportion of boards have achieved extensive coverage and further work will be necessary before a complete account of all outpatient surgical activity can be made. The number of outpatient procedures recorded in NHS Grampian in the year ended 31 March 2006 was 28,567.

  Table 2: Number of Procedures Performed in Acute Specialties in NHS Grampian Board of Treatment for Years Ending 31 March 2000 to 2006

  

 Year Ending 31 March:
 In-Patients
 Day Cases


 Total Procedures
 Total Procedures


 2000
 67,186
 30,775


 2001
 63,238
 31,711


 2002
 62,077
 27,440


 2003
 68,269
 22,381


 2004
 77,873
 21,091


 2005
 78,282
 21,810


 2006
 82,500
 23,735



  Source: SMR01.

National Health Service

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations were performed within (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four, (e) five, (f) six, (g) seven, (h) eight, (i) nine, (j) 10, (k) 11 and (l) 12 weeks or more of referral from a GP or specialist practitioner in each quarter of each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: It is not possible, from current data sources, to identify the length of the whole wait from a GP or specialist practitioner referral to the date of in-patient or day case admission.

  Information on the length of time waited by Scottish residents for a new appointment at a consultant-led out-patient clinic in an acute specialty following referral from a GP or dentist is routinely published on ISD Scotland’s website at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4013.html

  Information on the length of time waited by patients who were routinely admitted from the waiting list for in-patient/day case treatment is routinely published on ISD Scotland’s website at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4031.html.

National Health Service

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations were subject to medical deferral in each quarter of each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not available centrally.

National Health Service

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many emergency hospital readmissions there were of people aged (a) 50 to 64, (b) 65 to 74 and (c) 75 years and over in each quarter of each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on emergency admissions within 28 days of discharge is given in Emergency admission rates within 28 days of discharge from medical and surgical specialties, by age group, in Scottish Hospitals by quarter and NHS board of treatment, 2003-2005 a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41608).

  Emergency admissions within 28 days will include cases that are readmissions for complications resulting from the original hospital stay but will also encompass cases which are completely unrelated to the previous discharge from hospital. The information has been presented separately for surgical and medical groupings as the readmissions rates can differ quite markedly between these two groups.

National Health Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many occupational therapy assessments were carried out by occupational therapists in acute hospitals in each year since 2000, also broken down by category of hospital ward.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many physiotherapy assessments were carried out by staff in acute hospitals in each year since 2000, also broken down by category of hospital ward.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not collected centrally.

National Health Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many assessments were carried out by geriatricians in acute hospitals in each year since 2000, also broken down by category of hospital ward.

Mr Andy Kerr: The number of assessments carried out is not held centrally.

National Parks

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minister will accept the invitation from Arthur Cowie of Mallaig to hold a public meeting in Mallaig to explain the position in respect of the Executive’s proposals for a coastal and marine national park.

Ross Finnie: I intimated in my response to your constituent on 27 December 2006 that I could not take up his invitation at this time but that he may wish to approach my officials regarding attendance at the proposed meeting.

  The Executive’s consultation on proposals to establish Scotland’s first Coastal and Marine National Park closed on 10 January 2007. My officials have started an analysis of the responses to the consultation and will take account of the views expressed by the local residents of Mallaig, along with the other responses received as part of the consultation.

New Deal

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many junior doctors have been found to be in breach of New Deal working hour limits in each year since 1999, also broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information relating to the compliance of junior doctors with the New Deal contract has only been recorded centrally, from data provided by NHS boards, since 2004. The information you are seeking prior to this date may be available from individual health boards.

  Under the New Deal contract, rotas for junior doctors are monitored by health boards twice yearly (February to July and August to January). The data is collated centrally and is published by speciality and NHS board on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/info3.jsp?pContentID=1348&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&#JunDr.

  Section B gives details of medical posts in NHS Scotland with tables B13 to 17 providing summaries of compliance rates for junior doctors with the New Deal. The information is based on rota periods rather than on calendar years and records only full compliance with the contract, that is the 56 hour limit as well as rest and natural break requirements.

New Deal

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30871 by Nicol Stephen on 19 January 2007, whether it will list all New Deal programmes still in place.

Allan Wilson: The New Deal programmes are reserved to the Department for Work and Pensions and delivered by Jobcentre Plus. There are six programmes available:

  New Deal for Young People

  New Deal 25 plus

  New Deal 50 plus

  New Deal for Lone Parents

  New Deal for Disabled People

  New Deal for Partners.

  There is also a New Deal for Musicians delivered as part of New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 plus.

Nutrition

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many assessments were carried out by dieticians in acute hospitals in each year since 2000, also broken down by category of hospital ward.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on assessments by dieticians is not held centrally.

Police

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding per capita each police authority will receive in aggregate external finance in 2007-08.

Mr Tom McCabe: Subject to the approval of the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2007 by the Scottish Parliament, the information requested for 2007-08 is shown in the following table.

  

 Joint Police Board or Police Authority
Per Capita Funding
(£)


 Central
 182


 Dumfries and Galloway
 205


 Fife
 185


 Grampian
 194


 Northern
 204


 Lothian and Borders
 216


 Strathclyde
 233


 Tayside
 212


 Scotland
 216

Prostitution

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the comments by the Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform on 17 January 2007 ( Official Report , c. 31170), whether it will seek to obtain information from the Home Office or any other source on the extent to which the powers to disqualify drivers who have been convicted of offences in relation to prostitution have been employed in England and Wales and, in particular, how many disqualifications there have been and what usage has been made of the powers for the motor cars of such persons to be forfeited for each year since such powers became available.

George Lyon: The Home Office advise that they collect figures on persons disqualified from driving having been convicted of offences of kerb crawling. Thirty-six such cases were notified to them in both 2004 and 2005. However, they consider that the figures may be subject to data quality problems inherent in large scale recording systems. The Home Office advise that a continuing program of data quality improvement is in place to improve the quality of the data received from courts and police forces.

  The Home Office have not been able to provide statistics on the extent to which general powers to seize property, including vehicles, used in the commission of certain offences have been used in relation to people convicted of "kerb crawling" offences.

Recycling

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how voluntary and not-for-profit waste recycling organisations are being supported.

Ross Finnie: We are providing support to the community recycling sector through INCREASE, a grant scheme for the sector; through a number of Strategic Waste Fund awards to local authorities to support community sector work, and through the Community Recycling Network for Scotland, which we fund to develop the sector. In addition, we have just streamlined our Strategic Waste Fund procedures to make it simpler for local authorities to apply to support community sector work.

Recycling

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to the 55% recycling and composting target for 2020 as set out in the National Waste Plan published in 2003.

Ross Finnie: Yes.

Scotland Act 1998

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all changes that have been made since May 1999, or are in the process of being made, to Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5062 by Patricia Ferguson on 19 January 2004, what subsequent discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government on any modifications of the Schedule of reserved matters under section 29(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 and what any such modifications were.

Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including issues relating to legislative competence where appropriate.

  Schedules 4 and 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 have been amended by a series of Orders made under section 30(2) of the Scotland Act 1998. The Orders are available in the public domain and may be viewed on the Office of Public Sector Information website:

  www.opsi.gov.uk.

Scottish Executive Buildings

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will spend on indoor and outdoor plants in 2006-07.

Mr Tom McCabe: A budget allowance of £2,000 has been allocated for indoor plants and a further £36,300 for grounds maintenance including outdoor plants but also including winter gritting and the maintenance of grass areas.

Scottish Executive Funding

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what dedicated funding has been made available to Angus and Aberdeenshire councils to tackle antisocial behaviour in each year since 2004-05.

Johann Lamont: The information requested is provided in the following table:

  

 Local Authority
 2004-05 (£)
 2005-06 (£)
 2006-07 (£)
 2007-08 (£)
 Total (£)


 Aberdeenshire
 248,000
 275,750
 320,000
 335,000
 1,178,750


 Angus
 369,000
 409,400
 480,000
 519,000
 1,777,400

Social Workers

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many social workers have been attacked by clients in each local authority area in each year since 1999.

Robert Brown: This is a matter for local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

Supermarkets

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the impact on Scottish producers of the initial findings of the Competition Commission’s inquiry into the UK grocery market.

Ross Finnie: I am pleased the Commission has decided to consider further the impact of competition in the grocery market on primary producers, including those in the pig meat and dairy sectors. This has been a matter of concern within the farming industry. The Commission has invited further comments from interested parties and we will decide whether to submit comments once we have considered the Commission’s thinking in more detail but I would encourage others with views to respond to the Commission’s invitation.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what reports it has received from Transport Scotland in respect of the Forth crossing; on what dates they were received; why they have not been placed on the Transport Scotland website, and when they will be so placed.

Tavish Scott: An initial draft of each of the first three reports into a Forth Replacement Crossing Study was received as outlined in the following table. These reports will be published on the Transport Scotland website after both the necessary scrutiny and acceptance by Transport Scotland, and the Cabinet considering the emerging findings. I am preparing a paper for Cabinet to consider during February 2007.

  

 Report
 Date First Draft Received


 Assessment of transport network around the Forth
 3 November 2006


 Determining network performance around the Forth
 30 November 2006


 Option generation and sifting for a possible new crossing
 31 December 2006



  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it received (a) Assessment of transport network around the Forth, (b) Determining network performance around the Forth and (c) Option generation and sifting for a possible new crossing from Transport Scotland.

Tavish Scott: An initial draft of each report was received as set out in the following table. Work continues on each report before final versions are published.

  

 Report
 Date Received


 Assessment of transport network around the Forth
 3 November 2006


 Determining network performance around the Forth
 30 November 2006


 Option generation and sifting for a possible new crossing
 31 December 2006



  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Microsoft Government Leaders Forum

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what measures have been undertaken to assess and address the security implications for the Parliament building complex of the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum (GLF) Europe being held on 30 and 31 January 2007.

George Reid: The security implications of hosting the 2007 Microsoft Government Leaders Forum have been considered very seriously. The measures undertaken have been based on advice from Lothian and Borders Police and other security authorities and have drawn on previous experience of managing events held in the Parliament.

Microsoft Government Leaders Forum

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what financial contribution it will receive from the Scottish Executive towards security costs for the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum (GLF) Europe.

George Reid: All additional security costs incurred by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will be met by Microsoft. Any additional costs incurred by the Executive are a matter for them.